With a shaky breath, she watched Victor casually walk toward the trapped al boxes. And—
Swiiingg!
Smack!
Splat!
The sound of paintball rounds exploded toward Victor the mont his foot hit the tripwire. But what made Elara frown in confused disbelief was how Victor, splattered with red paintball liquid, smirked before casually picking up the al boxes.
Lethia exchanged a glance with Chasey, her expression baffled.
"What happened? Did he give up just like that?"
"Adam, where’s the other one?"
"Did he really sacrifice himself just for food?"
"Food’s still important."
"What should we do?"
"Keep your attention focused and hold your position!" Adam commanded.
The Squad B2 mbers’ voices crackled back and forth through the earbud comms, making Lethia wince and yank it off.
Her gut was screaming—sothing slipped through her observation.
She thought the plan was perfect, but why weren’t they attacking her team the way she predicted?
No... just like them, the enemy must’ve planned sothing smart too. If that’s the case, then—
Lethia decided to use her last hearing skill for the night and closed her eyes.
She quickly filtered through the sounds assaulting her eardrums until one stood out.
The sound of tal bolts being forcefully unscrewed.
Pssttt... Pssttt...
’No... a hand drill?’ Lethia’s eyes widened as she realized where it ca from. She shoved the comm earbud back on and rushed over to Chasey.
"Elevator. The other team is on the elevator," she said, pressing the words out fast.
But Rowan let out a disbelieving, half-mocking laugh. "How the hell are they in the elevator? What are they—spiders crawling through the lift shaft?"
Lethia clicked her tongue. Of course, no one could believe her, because she’d heard what they hadn’t, and she wouldn’t bla them for it. But they really didn’t have the ti.
"Then keep your position and do your best not to get shot! Adam... Chasey and I will go back to the eting room first." Lethia and Chasey moved imdiately.
From her hiding spot, she wouldn’t pass through the corridor where the elevator was located.
But from where Adam, Rowan, and Flo were hiding, they’d have to pass through that very corridor to get to the eting room.
"Are you sure? How could they be there?" Adam shot back.
"From the ceiling. That’s the thing we missed. They can enter from there without becoming a spider." Lethia shot him back a logical reply, her face showed annoyance.
"You go ahead first, I’ll follow. Rowan, stay on standby and focus on the ergency exit. Flo, back Rowan up from the opposite direction." Adam commanded through the comm.
"Adam, be careful," Lethia said, her voice laced with concern.
The three red cards were already with Adam, Rowan, and Lethia, tucked in the pockets of their vests—except for the one still trapped in the snake box. She only just thought about it, as the eting room could only be locked from the inside.
Lethia didn’t care what her team thought about her sudden command.
Because it was true, so people were trying to break in through the elevator’s ceiling.
She was frustrated with the way her power had failed her. Why hadn’t she picked up their conversation about this plan in the five minutes she could hear them?
Just as Lethia was about to enter the eting room with Chasey, her steps halted—
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
The shootout had already begun.
She froze. Her blood surged, her grip tightened around the rifle, slick with cold sweat.
"Who is that? Whose fire is that?" she barked through the comm.
"Not us," Flo replied.
"Adam, give your situation."
"..."
"Adam! Answer !"
"..."
"Ad—"
"Hah..." His breath was ragged. "This is bad. We can’t hurt them with bullets."
"What do you an?"
"Not when they’re still wearing that cushion shield," Adam replied, frustration lacing his voice.
"Chasey, you should lock the eting room and protect the two red cards. Wait for us inside," Lethia ordered, handing over the red card from her vest.
"But how could I just stay there alone?"
"This—" Lethia dropped the rifle. "Arghh..." She doubled over, clutching her lower stomach with a pained groan.
Chasey’s face twisted in panic. She rushed to prop Lethia up, half-dragging her into the eting room and easing her onto a chair.
Her eyes winced shut, hands pressed tight against her belly, teeth sinking into her bottom lip, each gesture betraying the pain growing sharper inside her.
Chasey carefully tore off Lethia’s helt and vest to give her room to breathe.
"Queen... queen, are you okay? Oh no... Adam—Queen is—should I fight in your place? Should I stay here with you? Oh no... don’t scare like this..."
She kept rambling, torn in panic, seeing Lethia writhing in pain.
"Cha...sey... help Adam. I can handle this," Lethia rasped, sucking in a shaky breath through her mouth. "Make sure... our red cards stay safe."
"But are you really okay alone? What do you feel? Is the baby coming out?" Chasey asked with wide, blinking eyes, so innocently that Lethia had to wonder if she was joking or just genuinely clueless about how long pregnancies were supposed to last.
"No. I’m just... hah... just in heat. This is normal for , so... hah... don’t worry and just... just go!"
"I’ll be back soon!" With eyes glassy and lips trembling, Chasey rushed out, leaving Lethia alone in the eting room.
The second she lost sight of Chasey’s back behind the closing door, Lethia forced herself up, still holding her lower belly, and locked the door.
Doctor Rue had warned her about the sudden heat, how the pup could randomly release bursts of energy.
But the ds she got were supposed to suppress those random tantrums for twelve hours.
She’d just taken it again after dinner, barely four hours ago, so why now? Was this a sign of sothing else entirely?
She touched around, glanced down at her grey pants just in case there was blood, but found nothing.
The pain ca and went without a clear rhythm, and she could feel a firm little bump shift beneath her belly. Still, her breathing was steadier now as she had more control.
’Whisney... can you feel the energy? Why is it acting up?’
’...’
’Whisney...’
’...’
Lethia frowned, her desperation flaring. She couldn’t reach her.
’Are you getting kicked out again?’
Reviews
All reviews (0)